New History Website launched
Throughout this year, the anniversaries of the outbreak of WW2 and D-Day 65 have focused the attention of both the media and the public on the dedication and sacrifice of all the Armed and civilian services who contributed to ultimate victory in 1945.
Many more stories of bravery and service beyond the call of duty have emerged from survivors of a generation that will soon no longer be within living memory. This is one of many reasons that a group of dedicated living history re-enactors decided to portray Home Front civilian police officers. Often overlooked for the contribution they made, the police service was put on alert as early as 1935 and they then prepared for what was called the likely emergency that the country might face. By 1938 in recognition of the fact that in wartime, police duties would substantially increase from their peacetime role, plans were urgently made to massively increase the number of officers.
It was recognised that no other service was so closely linked with the people and none was better able to gauge the mood and feelings of ‘the masses’ than the ‘bobby on the beat’. In time of stress and anxiety, people would turn to the familiar uniform of the law for reassurance, guidance and help in many situations. At the outbreak of war the police had, in addition to the issue of truncheons, been issued with gas masks, helmets and instruction booklets on action required in emergencies.
It was also the responsibility of the police to ensure that the message about and precautions against aerial attacks got into the public arena. With that task came the whole matter of the enforcement of black out regulations. Incidentally, police in a number of Metropolitan boroughs were also responsible for the fire service so additional to their police duties they had to have a basic knowledge of fire fighting.
The Home Guard was under the auspices of Chief Constables and this unfortunately became an uncomfortable alliance in many parts of the country. For every successful working relationship there were many others which were hampered by problems of rank between police officers and former WW1 veterans who were usually called upon to run their local unit of the Home Guard. In other areas of operation however, working relationships were very successful and that was true of the relationship between the civilian and the police units of the Armed Services.
www.policeatwar.com This site is dedicated to the men and women of the wartime civilian and Armed Services police who faced overwhelming challenges in their respective theatres of war. The re-enactors accurately portray police at war and in doing so keep alive the memory and spirit of those times as well as the memory of the men and women who when called into service did their duty without question and for the benefit of this country during those far off yet desperate days.
NOTES
For further details and photographs please contact John on 077 483 10996
Police at War supports charities and the volunteer re-enactors are available for educational and historical projects and events.
8th September 2009
